Caretaker govt halted work on Red Line BRT due to inflation, says Sharjeel

The Sindh government has resumed the previously halted work on the Red Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project and announced that the construction would proceed round the clock with three eight-hour shifts.

Sindh Senior Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Authority, Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Sharjeel Inam Memon visited construction sites of the BRT project in Malir Cantt, Mosamiyat Chowrangi, Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Numaish Chowrangi on Sunday. He explained that the construction on the project was paused during the caretaker government's tenure due to high inflation.

“Our priority is to provide relief to the public. The Red Line BRT will be Pakistan's first biogas-powered bus service,” he said, adding that the work on the Red Line BRT started in 2022. The Red Line BRT was an important project of the Sindh government, and the problems related to it had been resolved and a few remaining issues would be resolved soon, he remarked.

The transport sector was of great importance for the city, Memon said, adding that solving the problems of the people was the government’s first priority. The government had issued directives for the completion of the Red Line BRT work on Jinnah Avenue within three months, he said.

He explained that the cost of buses was low but the cost of infrastructure was high. He said the contractor, consultant and Asian Development Bank had been reviewing the cost of the Red Line project together.

The transport minister expressed the hope that the project would be completed within the stipulated period. He said the government understood the problems being faced by the students of various universities located on University road due to the under-construction Red Line BRT project.

“We all have to play our role in the development of the country. We will try to accomplish one year's work in six months and six months' work in three months,” he said. Memon said that some people spread pessimism and disappointed the public by sharing negative news on social media. He added that Pakistan could not afford any more setbacks, and the city and the province would contribute to the country's development.

He said that work on the Yellow Line BRT project had also begun and many projects were being carried out in the city with the support of the World Bank. In response to a question, Memon said May 9 was the darkest and worst day in the history of Pakistan when chaos was incited and people encouraged to resort to vandalism.

The Sindh senior minister said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) incited people to come to the streets and damage properties, torch buses and ambulances, and even a place like Jinnah House was not spared.